LA Lakers vs. Denver - Series LAL leads (1-0)

[LakerFanMan]

Odom has always been a better 3rd option then he has a 2nd option. He just seems much more relaxed and comfortable.

[JellosJigglin]

BTW, much props to Lamar Odom, who has embraced being the third option beyond our expectations.

He's grabbing boards, hustling on defense, powering the break (his most important task), and really throwing some amazing pinpoint passes into the interior (those touch passes from as far as the sideline 3pt line are SICK).

Essentially, he's excelling at the role that Marion could, but refused, to do.

That inside joke us Laker fans have is true: When we traded for Gasol we got 2 better players - Gasol and Odom.

There is an inverse relationship between Odom's impact on the game and his position on the totem pole. The lower option he is, the more impact he has. Reason being he's always going to give you that consistent 15/10/5 stat line. When he does it as a 2nd option it's not that helpful. But when you get 15/10/5 out of your 3rd or 4th option it has a huge impact on the game. It was always a matter of finding that 2nd option. I bow to the Basketball Gods and Kupchak for giving us Pau

[Retrolock]

Now where is B-Scott? He should read all this Odom love here. Was he waived or something?

[eatyourchildren]

-= original quote snipped =-



That inside joke us Laker fans have is true: When we traded for Gasol we got 2 better players - Gasol and Odom.

There is an inverse relationship between Odom's impact on the game and his position on the totem pole. The lower option he is, the more impact he has. Reason being he's always going to give you that consistent 15/10/5 stat line. When he does it as a 2nd option it's not that helpful. But when you get 15/10/5 out of your 3rd or 4th option it has a huge impact on the game. It was always a matter of finding that 2nd option. I bow to the Basketball Gods and Kupchak for giving us Pau

Yeah. I don't think quantitatively he's doing anything drastically different (ok well he is, since the Gasol trade his numbers have increased across the board around +2ppg, +2rpg, +2apg, +8fg%), but it's that he's giving us the exact same number while being the 3rd option. He's quickly transformed from team scapegoat to integral glue/swiss knife guy.

I can only imagine, when Bynum comes back and we're working the Twin Towers concept, Odom is going to have a field day threading passes to the big fellas (both of whom have GREAT hands, cough Kwame cough).

[Elway=GOAT]

What do you know, another playoff game, another Kobe Bryant underachievement. Out of the top 25 players of all time, outside of Wilt(which is why I do not consider him the best ever) is Kobe the worst when it comes to the playoffs? I know he is glorified because they won the three rings, and he was a pretty big part of it(he was still second fiddle). But he is yet to get out of the first round (which makes him no different to a Tmac at this point) post Shaq and as the man. His numbers take a pretty big dump compared to the rest of the league come playoff, and today was just another example.
.

[LakerFanMan]

Wow, if you're trying to bait someone into an argument, you could at least be a little less obvious.

[eatyourchildren]

If Kobe has a good playoff game, will you be here to praise him?

[JellosJigglin]

What do you know, another playoff game, another Kobe Bryant underachievement. Out of the top 25 players of all time, outside of Wilt(which is why I do not consider him the best ever) is Kobe the worst when it comes to the playoffs? I know he is glorified because they won the three rings, and he was a pretty big part of it(he was still second fiddle). But he is yet to get out of the first round (which makes him no different to a Tmac at this point) post Shaq and as the man. His numbers take a pretty big dump compared to the rest of the league come playoff, and today was just another example.
.

Kobe reached legend status from his playoff performances. I know you're frustrated after the loss though. You have a few days to get your head screwed on right.

But the last 2 years he averaged 33ppg on 46% shooting and 28 on 50% shooting. I don't consider that underachieving.

[Texas Longhorns]

I like how Kobe is pumped and all during the game. But he's so cocky. I don't like that part of the game. He does it more than anyone I've ever seen. Jordan didn't really do it to anyone. I see other superstars in the playoffs and they let the trash talking go. Kobe seems to keep going with it. There's nothing wrong with it, but for me I don't like that part of any player. It's the playoffs, everyone should be grateful that they made it into the playoffs. I understand the intensity is so high, but there is no need for that. I just hate that part of the game. Everything else in the playoffs has just been amazing.

[JellosJigglin]

Wow, if you're trying to bait someone into an argument, you could at least be a little less obvious.

No reason to get baited into an argument here. I don't think a Nugget fan would REALLY want to get into an argument about "underachievements".

[eatyourchildren]

Sigh. Can't we have a thread where we just talk about basketball strategy? Guess i have to go to forumblueandgold for that.

[Kobay]

Do I have to be the final one to give B-Scott an orgasm?

Odom >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kobe. He was great today.

[shobe_81]

What do you know, another playoff game, another Kobe Bryant underachievement. Out of the top 25 players of all time, outside of Wilt(which is why I do not consider him the best ever) is Kobe the worst when it comes to the playoffs? I know he is glorified because they won the three rings, and he was a pretty big part of it(he was still second fiddle). But he is yet to get out of the first round (which makes him no different to a Tmac at this point) post Shaq and as the man. His numbers take a pretty big dump compared to the rest of the league come playoff, and today was just another example.
.

Haha you're basing this on one game where Kobe's had some help post Shaq

Your post makes stupid peoples posts look good and that is an understatement!

Have you seen any other series where he did pretty well?

Yea so I guess Elway choked on big states says the only 2 wins in the 5 appearances in Super Bowl right? Oh yea and the Super Bowl XXIV, which Elway's Broncos lost 55-10, way to show up in that one Elway!

[JellosJigglin]

I like how Kobe is pumped and all during the game. But he's so cocky. I don't like that part of the game. He does it more than anyone I've ever seen. Jordan didn't really do it to anyone. I see other superstars in the playoffs and they let the trash talking go. Kobe seems to keep going with it. There's nothing wrong with it, but for me I don't like that part of any player. It's the playoffs, everyone should be grateful that they made it into the playoffs. I understand the intensity is so high, but there is no need for that. I just hate that part of the game. Everything else in the playoffs has just been amazing.

Holy hell you can't be serious. Jordan was labeled as one of the biggest **** talkers in the league. Even retired players today talk about how much smack he talked.

When Kobe does it it's usually if someone tries to rough him up or if they say something to him to get under his skin. That thing between him and Martin was nothing. That stuff goes on in every game. He gave Martin a few compliments in his postgame press conference.

[tracey_nice]

Favre > Elway

[LakerFanMan]

Yea that was actually one of the best parts about Jordan's game. He could get in people's heads very, very easily.

And LOL at the Farvre > Elway crack.

[Kobay]

Kobe was for some reason extremely cocky today. It gave me douche chills. Then I look at stats he some how has 32 points on 26 shots while he looked horrible out there. Overall, the game was bizarre. It didn't feel like playoffs. Fouls were called all over the place. It just sucked and i want to forget it.

[shobe_81]

Can we make a Kobe Hate Thread and Sticky it

I'm tired of these girls coming in here and whinnying on how they don't like Kobe's intensity or desire in the game and blah blah blah!

What do they want, him to be like Duncan and keep his head down the whole time?

[Texas Longhorns]

OK, maybe Jordan did talk, but Kobe, I think, should be more mature. He is a veteran now, I think everyone pretty much knows he's unstoppable and is the best.

[sixers_610]

I hate how he always has to shake his head like "No, you can't stop me"


Yea, we get it, you're really good. No need to feed your ego constantly.